‘We’ll Buy a Bigger One Next Year’: Rivers State HoA Members Present 2025 Toyota Camry to Wike as Christmas Gift

By Emmanuel Kwada 

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, surprised Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike with a brand-new 2025 Toyota Camry during a festive Christmas gathering at the Assembly quarters.

The gesture, described as a token of appreciation, was met with mixed reactions, with the Speaker humorously promising “better gifts” in future celebrations.

In a ceremony marked by cheers and festive decorations, Speaker Amaewhule handed over the car keys to Wike, emphasizing the gift’s significance as a mark of respect and gratitude from the lawmakers, their spouses, and children.

“As part of the Christmas celebration, we brought a little token to mark this Christmas for the year 2025. So, Your Excellency, very respectfully, very humbly, on behalf of members, on behalf of our wives and spouses, on behalf of our children, we present to you the keys to a Toyota 2025 Camry car,” Amaewhule stated.

The Speaker added a light-hearted note, acknowledging Wike’s extensive car collection but urging him to “add this one to the ones you already have.” He jokingly remarked, “Now that you have started, you will not stop. By 2026, we will be waiting for you, and hopefully our wives will save more money to buy a better gift.”

The event, which featured a red carpet and a backdrop of “Merry Christmas” banners, highlighted the ongoing political dynamics in Rivers State.

Wike, a former governor of the state, has maintained significant influence over the pro-Wike faction of the Assembly, despite his current role in the federal government.

This influence has been a point of contention in his protracted political feud with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who has faced legislative opposition since defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2024.

One user remarked, “They should have equipped a hospital in Wike’s community to honor him,” while another labeled the gesture as part of an “animal republic.”

As the 2025 Toyota Camry now joins Wike’s fleet, the gesture serves as a reminder of the complex power play in Rivers State, where loyalty and rivalry continue to shape the political landscape.

Whether the promised “better gifts” in 2026 will materialize remains to be seen, but for now, the 2025 model stands as a symbol of the Assembly’s allegiance to their “papa.”